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2019-07-24 10:07:16

IRBT

iRobot

$70.25

-19.39 (-21.63%)

10:07

07/24/19

07/24

10:07

07/24/19

10:07

iRobot price target lowered to $75 from $96 at Piper Jaffray

Piper Jaffray analyst Troy Jensen lowered his price target on iRobot shares to $75 from $96 after the company reported mixed Q2 results and lowered its 2019 revenue and earnings expectations, citing the 25% tariffs on Chinese-made products that have been put into effect by the U.S. iRobot has a robust product pipeline that will be a tailwind for revenue growth in 2020, but it will continue to be impacted by tariff costs until a China/U.S. trade settlement or until the company can shift more of its manufacturing, said Jensen, who keeps a Neutral rating on the stock.

After surveying 75 retail and electronics stores in U.S. throughout June to inquire about promotions and sell-through, Citi analyst Asiya Merchant says spending trends are favorable for both Logitech (LOGI) and Corning (GLW) and unfavorable for GoPro (GPRO). Across categories, TVs stood out as the category most likely to be the top selling consumer electronics product and highest category to exceed sales expectations, while digital cameras are least likely to be a top seller and most likely to miss, Merchant tells investors in a research note. The analyst believes video gaming accessories trends are positive for Logitech while digital camera trends are negative for GoPro. The digital camera market is at historical lows, contends Merchant. The analyst keeps a Buy rating on Logitech shares with a $46 price target. She also lowered her price target for Neutral-rated iRobot (IRBT) to $95 from $100 to reflect the 25% tariff levied on robotic vacuums. Merchant adds that the survey yield "mixed" results for robotic vacuums.

06/10/19

RAJA

06/10/19NO CHANGERAJA

iRobot estimates lowered at Raymond James on tariff increase

Raymond James analyst Brian Gesuale maintained a Market Perform rating on iRobot, but lowered his FY19 and FY20 EPS estimates on the stock due to Trump's latest tariff hike and the "lack of visibility that a resolution will materialize any time soon."

iRobot reported March quarter results that missed Street revenue expectations but comfortably beat on the bottom line thanks to a tax benefit, Piper Jaffray analyst Troy Jensen tells investors in a research note. Further, the Q1 sales softness was matched with an unexpected ramp in Q2 operating expenditures, which brought the Q2 earnings guidance well below consensus, adds the analyst. With the company reiterating 2019 guidance, this implies a "big" second half is needed to reach the company's goals and full year consensus expectations, says Jensen. The analyst, who has been Neutral on iRobot shares given valuation concerns, maintains his rating and $96 price target even after yesterday's selloff.

04/18/19

JPMS

04/18/19NO CHANGETarget $100JPMSNeutral

iRobot price target raised to $100 from $88 at JPMorgan

JPMorgan analyst Mark Strouse raised his price target for iRobot to $100 from $88 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares ahead of the company's "seasonally slow" Q1 results. The analyst expects "continued strong results," though he expects iRobot to keep its revenue guidance unchanged. Management's tone is likely to remain optimistic, particularly regarding the pending launch of the lawnmower product, Terra, and regarding additional product launches later in 2019, Strouse tells investors in a research note. While his price target implies downside, the analyst does not view iRobot as a short as he expects investor optimism regarding new products to "buoy the stock near term."

Technology & Internet Analyst Seyrafi holds a group luncheon meeting with Scott Gifis, President of AdRoll, a key re-targeting company that is a top buyer on Facebook, Google AdX and a key partner with Twitter, Pinterest, and others, in New York on September 24 at 12 pm hosted by FBN Securities.

Following Apple's (AAPL) Special Event, investors seemed to only care about Apple TV+'s unexpectedly low price, with stocks of streaming rivals like Netflix (NFLX) and Disney (DIS) quickly falling on potential unforeseen risks to competition, Tae Kim writes in this week's edition of Barron's. While the $4.99 a month price for Apple TV+ looks appealing, it may not be so attractive once consumers consider the number of shows the service will offer, the author contends, adding that the small lineup offered actually makes Apple TV+ look pricey compared with the competition. Reference Link

United Airlines stock has been range bound for much of the past year, as investors fretted about its ability to weather the impact of higher oil prices and potentially slowing growth, Ben Levisohn writes in this week's edition of Barron's. But the stock is just too cheap and may get a boost after a short squeeze, the publication notes. Reference Link

Amid talk of a coming recession and expectations that the Federal Reserve is about to lower interest rates again - theoretically crimping financial stocks - it is important to remember that buying stuff that is wildly out of favor, such as Bank of America's stock, is historically a great way to make money, Steven Sears writes in this week's edition of Barron's. Reference Link

Even in a rough year for retail stocks, Tapestry - the holding company that owns Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman - stands out as a flop, with shares down 25% in 2019, Avi Salzman writes in this week's edition of Barron's. The stock's recent weakness, however, opens an opportunity, the author contends, adding that investors should have more confidence in Tapestry's cash flow, which has help up. Reference Link

Amerco (UHAL), owner of U-Haul, is one of the "better-kept secrets" in the stock market as it has virtually no analyst coverage, communicates little with investors, and is run like a private business by controlling Shoen family, Andrew Bary writes in this week's edition of Barron's. Trading at $380, the shares look appealing after having been stuck in a range of $325-$400 for most of the past four years, the author notes. Reference Link

North American railroads like CSX (CSX), Union Pacific (UNP) and Canadian National Railway (CNI) have been Wall Street favorites, but freight volumes are declining amid worries over an economic slowdown and a trade war, price competition from truckers is pressuring rail rates and the railroads last hope for continued profit growth is efficiency gains, Bill Alpert writes in this week's edition of Barron's. However, there are limits to efficiency strategy as evident in Canada, where precision scheduled railroading was pioneered a decade ago on the long-haul runs of Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), the author notes. Reference Link

Aimmune Therapeutics announced that the Allergenic Products Advisory Committee, or APAC, convened by the FDA voted to support the use of AR101, proposed trade name Palforzia, in children and teens with peanut allergy. Palforzia is a complex, biologic oral immunotherapy candidate designed to reduce the incidence and severity of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, after accidental exposure to peanut in patients aged 4 through 17 years with a confirmed diagnosis of peanut allergy. The APAC voted 7 to 2 that the efficacy data and 8 to 1 that the safety data, in conjunction with additional safeguards, are adequate to support the use of Palforzia.

AT&T's (T) CNN will stop hosting advertisements from Juul, which is 35% owned by Altria (MO) and other e-cigarette brands following concerns over an illness that has affected users of vaping products, the Daily Beast's Maxwell Tani reports. During a Tuesday town-hall meeting with CNN employees, network head Jeff Zucker said in response to a question about the company's advertising deal with Juul that the network will not allow Juul or other vaping brands to buy ads moving forward, Tani reports, citing several network sources. A CNN spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Beast that it will no longer allow e-cigarette ads, but will leave the door open to reverse course if research shows vaping products are not harmful. Reference Link

Basic Energy Services announced that T.M. "Roe" Patterson, the company's president and CEO and a member of its board, notified the company that he plans to transition away from the company to pursue other business opportunities. The company has begun an executive search for a new CEO. Patterson will continue to serve as president and CEO of Basic, and as a member of the board, while the company conducts a search for his successor, and will remain with Basic in an advisory capacity for a period of time after his replacement is chosen to facilitate an orderly transition. Once his successor is chosen, Patterson will resign from his position on the board as well. Additionally, the company announced that Julio Quintana, a current independent director of the company, will take on the additional role of chairman of the board, effective September 13. Quintana became a member of the board in 2016. Timothy Day, who has served as a member of the board and chairman since 2016, will continue to serve as a director of the company and as chair of the Compensation Committee of the Board.

Philips has been awarded a maximum $400M fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for digital imaging network picture archiving communications system products and maintenance. This was a competitive acquisition with ten offers received. This is the seventh contract competitively awarded under the open solicitation. This is a five-year base contract with one five-year option period. Locations of performance are California and other areas located within and outside the continental U.S., with a September. 12, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is FY19 through FY24 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency.

Raytheon was awarded a $427.3M contract for procurement of common sensor payload systems, spare parts and engineering and system support services. One bid was were solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of September 12, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command is the contracting activity.